UH Manoa to host international food processing and safety conference on Feb. 26-27

HONOLULU - The Food Technology Program in the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will host an international conference titled, "Go Global: Food Processing and Safety," Feb. 26-27, 2008, at the Pacific Beach Hotel in the 7th Floor Grand Ballroom. The conference will focus on food processing and safety and the various issues of international trade in agribusiness.

"The topics discussed will help raise awareness and practical knowledge amongst agribusiness practitioners on global business activities through an increase in marketing intelligence, development of new strategies in how market shares can grow and identification and expansion of new markets," said Aurora Saulo, conference coordinator and the extension specialist in the Food Technology Program. "This conference addresses problems local practitioners have long voiced." The two-day conference will include a keynote address by Dr. Nega Beru, director of the Office of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, on "The Future Global Food System."

Local, national and international experts will discuss topics that include: Global Issues Facing the Safety of Food; Trends in the Food Preferences of Consumers; Creating and Marketing Healthful Foods; Enabling Environment for Market Access; Value Chain Management; Facilitating Market Linkages; International Marketing Strategies; and a CEO Forum on Best Practices.

The conference is held in collaboration with the UH Center for International Business Education and Research, Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association and De La Salle Professional Schools (Manila, Philippines).

For more information and to register, go to http://ctahr.hawaii.edu/globalfoods. The deadline to register is Feb. 15, 2008. Those interested in attending but have missed the registration deadline should contact Aurora Saulo at (808) 956-6564.